Method and system for controlling and diagnosing a climate control system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for controlling and diagnosing an automotive climate control or environmental system with an electronic or mobile device is disclosed. The system provides for wireless control between the system controllers and an electronic device, such as an electronic device or computer, with instructions executed on a processor to display on the electronic device or the computer-human interface display device with a user interface region or a graphical user interface. Using wireless technology features of an electronic device, the automotive climate control system is wirelessly controlled from the electronic device containing software connected with the climate control system software and firmware mounted within the vehicle that rotates servo motors, and operates fan speed and compressor activity. The user interface regions may be used to create preset, predetermined desired positions of system mode, temperature, fan speed, and the display color and appearance of the user interface region.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 62/249,600, filed Nov. 2, 2015, the subject matter ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology described herein relates generally to a method and systemfor controlling and diagnosing a climate control system, and moreparticularly to a system and method for wirelessly controlling anddiagnosing an automotive climate control system with an electronic ormobile device having a graphical user interface.

BACKGROUND

The use of air conditioning systems within vehicles is a relativelyrecent addition. It was not until about 1953 when luxury cars beganproviding an optional air conditioning system as original equipment. In1954 a more efficient and affordable air conditioning unit waseventually mass produced for the auto industry, with improvedperformance and fuel economy. However, as comfortable as airconditioning was known to be, it was not a frequently ordered accessoryuntil the late 1970's, when it became the reliable and efficient systemin use today. As a result, many older, restored and rebuilt vehicles donot have air conditioning systems. Moreover, some of the older vehicleswhich did include early air conditioning systems are in need of repairor replacement.

The use of air conditioning system kits for installation in oldervehicles has arisen to provide a solution to the problem of adding orreplacing air conditioning systems in these older vehicles. Numerousproblems exist with respect to such installation and replacement kids.Original parts are not available or desirable in such systems, sincemodern electronic components can provide such an improvement in systemperformance. The appearance and mounting of air conditioning systems mayalso be problematic for old car hobbyists, who desire to retain theoriginal appearance and operation of their historical vehicles. As aresult, it is often undesirable to add new or replacement heating andair conditioning controls to a historical vehicle which did notoriginally have such controls. An improved method and system forcontrolling and diagnosing an automotive climate control system with anelectronic or mobile device may be desirable.

SUMMARY

A system and method for controlling and diagnosing an automotive climatecontrol or environmental system with an electronic or mobile device isdisclosed. The system provides for wireless control between the systemcontrollers and an electronic device, such as a mobile or wearabledevice or computer, with instructions executed on a processor to displayon the electronic device or the computer-human interface display devicewith a user interface region or a graphical user interface. Using thewireless technology features of an electronic device, such as Bluetooth®technology, the automotive climate control system is wirelesslycontrolled from the electronic device containing software connected withthe climate control system software and firmware mounted within thevehicle that rotates servo motors, and operates fan speed and compressoractivity. The user interface regions may be used to create preset,predetermined desired positions of system mode, temperature, fan speed,and the display color and appearance of the user interface region.

The graphical user interface region includes a dial configured for aninput to be received via the user interface region, where the input isan interaction on the dial that selects a choice of output, such as tocontrol the mode of air locations within the automotive climate controlsystem, for example, between automotive dash mounted vents, dash mounteddefrost and/or floor outlets. Additionally, an input is received via auser interaction within the user interface region using a dial tocontrol temperature within the automotive climate control system, suchas to select a desired temperature between cold and hot positions, andproviding continuous selective control between these positions. Stillfurther, an input is received via an interaction on a dial to controlblower fan speeds within the automotive climate control system, in orderto adjust air volume from a fan off position to a high fan speedposition, and providing continuous selective control of fan speedbetween these positions.

The system for diagnosing the automotive climate control system alsodiscloses diagnosing servo motor degree positions within the system,diagnosing problems with compressor engagement and compressor operationwithin operating limits, and monitoring system refrigerant pressureswithin the automotive system via sensors.

The system further includes calibration of the automotive climatecontrol system servo motors to electrically mark and store instructionsconfigured to cause data processing apparatus or firmware to performoperations on the system components, such as electrically markingextreme open and closed positions and providing notification in theevent any servo motors move beyond these positions or fail to meetextreme positions during operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an example system including agraphical user interface (GUI) for wirelessly controlling and diagnosingan automotive climate control system with an electronic or mobiledevice.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates sensors positioned within the climatecontrol system for detecting compressor and pressure operation withinthe system.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a cut-away view of a pressuretransducer containing a pressure sensor mounted in the system fordetecting compressor and pressure operation within the system.

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the pressure transducer ofFIG. 2A for detecting compressor and pressure operation within thesystem.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cut-away side view of the pressure transducer ofFIG. 2B for detecting compressor and pressure operation within thesystem.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an electronic control moduleinterconnected within components of the automotive climate controlsystem via a wiring harness for controlling servo motor operation anddetecting sensors for adjusting temperature controls, fan speeds anddefrost controls.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates temperature sensors positioned withinthe automotive climate control system for controlling and diagnosingtemperature aspects of system operation.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the system components in FIG. 2 throughFIG. 4 located within an automotive vehicle.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates system components in FIG. 2 throughFIG. 5 located within a dash mount of an automotive vehicle forcommunication with an electronic device such as a mobile and/or wearabledevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system 10 for wirelessly controlling and diagnosing anautomobile climate control system 12 using an electronic mobile deviceis disclosed in this application. The electronic device 14 may be of anycommonly known electronic devices, such as Android devices, as well asiPhone®, iPad® or Apple Watch devices of the type manufactured and soldby Apple, Inc. of California. The electronic devices 14 make use of theApple iOS operating system, or other operating systems having wirelesstechnology, such as Bluetooth® capabilities, enabling wireless signalcommunication S between the electronic devices 14 and system 10 forinteracting with the automobile climate control system 12 via anelectronic control module 22. The control software disclosed in thepresent application may be downloaded via the internet accessible Apple®App Store, for example. Illustrations of the screen images of thesoftware which are displayed on electronic devices 14 for operating thesystem 10 are shown in FIG. 1 . In order to provide control andadjustment of the automotive climate control system 12 wirelessly from amobile device 14, system 10 software is provided and wirelesslyconnected with automotive climate control system 12 software andfirmware within the electronic control module 22, which isinterconnected with the climate control system 12 via a wiring harness Hto the fan motor and various servo motors that rotate the servo motorsin order to operate fan speed, vent outlets and adjust compressoractivity. It should be understood that conventional heating, ventilatingand air conditioning system components used in the system 12 are wellknown in the art, for example a condenser, compressor, evaporatorcomponents, duct work, fans, servo motors and refrigerant lines are allillustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6 , and thus their operation is notdiscussed in further detail.

The automotive climate control system 12 includes multiple air outletlocations 16 such as automotive dash mounted vents 17, dash mounteddefrost 18 and/or floor 19 outlets. The designation of which airlocation(s) is/are selected to be operated is generally referred to assystem mode, control of which is wirelessly enabled from a mobile device14 using the system mode 20 selection software instructions or acomputer-program product for processing user inputs and system sensorinputs, and adjusting components of the system 12 based upon the userand sensor inputs provided via the electronic control module 22. Theuser provides desired input to the system 10 to adjust to the differentmodes or functionality of the climate control system 12. For example, bytapping the desired DASH, FLOOR, or DEFROST icons, represented by theface, foot or windshield, respectively, in the mode 20 selection screen,or by simply dragging or moving the dial or pointer P to the desiredlocation within the graphical user interface region on the touch screenof the electronic device 14, as shown in FIG. 1 . Input instructions arecommunicated wirelessly via the electronic control module 22 to makenecessary and desired physical adjustments to the vehicle climate system12 components, and move the air location to the corresponding dashmounted vents 17, defrost outlets 18 or floor outlets 19, using therespective interconnected dash servo, defrost servo and floor servomotors 30 shown in FIG. 3 .

Another aspect of the automotive climate control system 12 which may becontrolled and adjusted by features of the system 10 via theinterconnected electronic control module 22, is temperature control.Variable movement between cold to hot positions is provided, which maybe preset or adjusted wirelessly using the system GUI. The user providesdesired input to the system 10 to adjust the temperature by tapping alocation between the HOT/COLD icons, illustrated as a flame/snowflake onthe temperature selection screen 24 shown in FIG. 1 , or simply draggingthe dial or pointer to the desired location along the temperaturegradient illustrated in the graphical user interface temperatureselection region 24 using the touch screen of the electronic device 14.Input instructions are then communicated wirelessly to the electroniccontrol module 22 to make necessary and desired physical adjustments tothe vehicle climate control system 12 components, and increase ordecrease warm or cool air provided to the vehicle interior using theinterconnected temperature control servo motor 29, heating and airconditioning systems schematically shown in FIGS. 2-5 . Additionalfeedback regarding the need for climate control system 12 adjustments isprovided to the electronic control module 22 regarding the temperaturewithin the vehicle interior via temperature sensors 28 positioned atvarious locations. As schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , multiplecabin or interior vehicle temperature sensors 28 may be provided atdesired locations for communicating sensed temperature levels within thevehicle to the electronic control module 22. Additionally, temperaturelevels within the vehicle climate control system 12 components are alsomonitored and provided to the electronic control module 22 to furthersupport efficient operation of the system 10 to the desired usersettings. Such internal temperature sensors 40 are provided to measurethe temperature of air leaving duct work behind the vehicle dashboard,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . The temperature of air entering thefan/blower motor 32 is also measured at an inlet fan temperature sensor42. Coil temperature sensors 43 are also provided to measure refrigeranttemperatures, as shown schematically in FIG. 4 .

Another feature of the automotive climate control system 12 which may becontrolled and adjusted by the system 10 includes blower fan speeds toadjust air volume provided to a vehicle interior. Using the fan speedselection screen 26, fan speeds may be changed from off position to highposition. The user provides desired input to the system to adjust thefan blower by tapping the LOW/HIGH icon or simply dragging the dial orpointer P to the desired location along the fan speed gradientillustrated in the graphical user interface region of the touch screenof the electronic device 14, which input instructions are thencommunicated to make necessary and desired physical adjustments to thevehicle system 12 components, and to increase or decrease the speed ofthe fan/blower motor 32 to increase or decrease the volume of airprovided to the vehicle interior using the interconnected servo motors,as shown schematically in FIG. 3 .

The present system 10 also provides diagnostic information regardingservo motor degree positions within the climate control system 12.Diagnosis within the system is provided to continuously monitor system12 servo motors for, or rotation of, motor calibration data which issaved within the system to ensure proper operation within the desiredparameters. Information is provided within the system 10 via anelectronic device 14 using diagnostic screens 34, 34 a. If the servomotors 29, 30 fail to meet or exceed calibrated rotation, systemsoftware will wirelessly disable the malfunctioning servo motor and senda failure code to a diagnosis screen 34 b of the electronic device GUIthat can be sent via email or other electronic communication, orremotely obtained by a remote technical support team in order to obtaina system repair.

Diagnosis of an automotive climate control system 12 problem withcompressor 36 engagement is also enabled by the present system. A menuscreen 54 is provided via the electronic device 14 to access moredetailed aspects of system 10 control. Using sensors, the systemcontinuously monitors system compressor activity within the automotiveclimate control system 12 making certain that the compressor isoperative or operating in correct mode and temperature positions definedand stored within the software. If compressor 36 activity is not withincorrect limits, software enabled within the electronic control module 22will wirelessly send a failure code to a diagnosis screen 34 of theelectronic device GUI that can also be emailed or remotely obtained by aremote technical support team in order to obtain a system repair, usingcontact screen 50.

Diagnosing an automotive climate control system 12 problem withrefrigerant pressures is also enabled by this present system 10. Usingpressure transducers 60 containing sensors 62, within the heating andair conditioning components of the climate control system 12, the system10 continuously monitors system 12 refrigerant pressures making certainrefrigerant pressures are within acceptable ranges stored and definedwithin the software. If system pressure values are not within acceptablelow and high values, software within the electronic control module 22will wirelessly disengage compressor voltage and send a failure code toa diagnosis screen 34 of the electronic device GUI that can be emailedor remotely obtained by a remote technical support team in order toobtain a system repair. The preferred pressure transducers 60 are inline with the refrigerant conduit, and include electrically connectedsensor devices with piezoresistive sensing technology of the typecommercially available from Honeywell, such as a PX3 Series product, asshown in FIGS. 2, 2A-2C. Such pressure transducers enable systempressure detection from between 1 bar to 46 bar, which the system 10software of the electronic control module 22 converts to a psimeasurement of between 0 psi to 660 psi. By positioning the transducers60 on the high pressure side of the air conditioning system compressor36, and the low pressure side of the compressor, as shown in FIGS. 2 and5 , and electrically connecting the transducers to the electroniccontrol module 22 via wires 64, the electronic control module 22compares the relative pressures within the system 12 to confirm properoperation. Where the pressures are sensed as high or low, diagnosticinformation is provided to the system 10 such that the user may view thediagnostic information at the diagnosis screens 34, 34 a, 34 b, and takesteps to make any necessary repairs, including communicating the systempressures to a diagnostic screen 34 c.

The present system also enables the user to calibrate the automotiveclimate control system servo motors 29, 30 and electrically mark andstore their settings within the software. Once the climate controlsystems servo motors are calibrated such that electrical markingsbetween extreme open and closed positions are saved within the software,the software continuously monitors the degree range as well as extremepositions of the servo motors using sensors. If motors move beyond thesepositions or fail to meet extreme positions during operation, diagnosticsoftware within the electronic control module 22 will transmit anddisplay an error code on the diagnosis screen 34 b of the GUI on themobile or electronic device 14, which failure code can be emailed orremotely obtained by a remote technical support team in order to obtaina system repair.

Preset positions of system mode, temperature settings, fan speeds, andmobile device GUI display region of desired color and appearance mayalso be selected and by a user of the present system 10. Using a presetindicator screen 44 on an electronic device 14, the climate controlsystem 12 saves a snap shot of the position of mode 20 and servo motorpositions, temperature screen 24 and temperature servo motor positions,fan blower selection 26 speeds, display colors, such as a screen 46 tochange the desired color of the GUI display using a color wheel of 256RGB colors, and a screen 48 to change the visual appearance of displayon the electronic device GUI. These preset positions are saved into thesystem 10 software memory data for simple one button function using thegraphical user interface region 44 via a touch screen of the electronicdevice 14 for future user selection as a system 12 input using screen44.

Use of wireless technology connections provides remote technicalassistance for diagnosis via a contact screen 50. Remote assistance maybe obtained from a technician when the automotive climate control system12 is connected wirelessly with a mobile device 14 and the mobile deviceis connected wirelessly over a network or the internet. Instructionalvideo information regarding system 10 operation is provided via “How to”screen 52 Voice commands may also be used to control and adjust theautomotive air conditioning system. The system 10 allows inputs of vocalcommands spoken into a microphone on the mobile device 14 to controlmode 20 locations such as automotive dash mounted vents, dash mounteddefrost and floor outlets. Voice commands are also permitted as systeminputs to control temperature adjustments such as cold to hot positions24 and fan blower output from off to high 26. It should be understoodthat a secure login protocol (as shown in FIG. 1 ) is provided to limitaccess to the system 10 except by those with appropriate permissions.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention andenable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Thepatentable scope of the invention may include other examples.Additionally, the methods and systems described herein may beimplemented on many different types of processing or electronic devicesby program code comprising program instructions that are executable by adevice processing sub-system. The software program instructions mayinclude source code, object code, machine code, or any other stored datathat is operable to cause a processing system to perform the methods andoperations described herein. Other implementations may also be used,however, such as the firmware mentioned or even appropriately designedhardware configured to carry out the methods and systems describedherein.

The system 10 was developed to control vehicle climate control systems12 because of complaints that adding physical controls on the vehicledash cluttered the overall appearance of the historical dashboards.Using simple finger gestures like tapping or swiping on user interfaceregion of a touch screen of an electronic device 14 sends a wirelesssignal to the users vehicle climate control system 12 to change modepositions such as floor or defrost 20 and change temperature settings24. The software application for the electronic device 14 has anappearance screen 53 that allows the user to change the color of all theicons to match their vehicles interior via a color wheel. The softwareapplication also has two interfaces to choose from. There is atraditional interface with icons that are currently vehicle standardsand a futuristic interface that the customer can select. The softwareapplication gives multiple user preset settings to control functions ofthe vehicle climate control system 12, where users can set temperature,fan intensity, and which vents they prefer. A self-diagnostic featureeases troubleshooting. The user can press the diagnostics icon on screen34 and the system 10 will determine what the problem is and reportresults to the screens 34 a, 34 b, 34 c. The software application willalso gather an error code and inform a remotely located technician ofthe problem via email, phone or Facebook®, if the user chooses.

The system and method data may be stored and implemented in one or moredifferent types of computer-implemented data stores, such as differenttypes of storage devices and programming constructs (e.g., RAM, ROM,flash memory, flat files, data-bases, programming data structures,programming variables, IF-THEN or similar statement constructs, etc.).It is noted that data structures describe formats for use in organizingand storing data in databases, programs, memory or othercomputer-readable media for use by a computer program.

The electronic device, wireless technology, computer components,software modules, functions, data stores and data structures describedherein may be connected directly or indirectly to each other in order toallow the flow of data needed for their operations. It is also notedthat a module or processor includes but is not limited to a unit of codethat performs a software operation, and can be implemented for exampleas a subroutine unit of code, or as a software function unit of code, oras an object (as in an object-oriented paradigm), or as an applet, or ina computer script language, or as another type of computer code. Thesoftware components and/or functionality may be located on electronicdevices, a computer or distributed across multiple computers dependingupon the situation at hand.

It should be understood that as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the”includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims thatfollow, the meaning of “each” does not require “each and every” unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise.

We claim:
 1. A method for wirelessly controlling a vehicle climatecontrol system within a vehicle without physical controls for thevehicle climate control system comprising the steps of: adjusting thetemperature of air provided to the vehicle by the vehicle climatecontrol system using control software operating on an electronic devicetouch screen with a temperature graphical user interface region, andwirelessly transmitting the adjustment to an electronic control modulein the vehicle climate control system for electrically communicatingwith the temperature servo motor to provide the desired air temperature;adjusting the air outlet location mode of the vehicle climate controlsystem using the control software operating on the electronic devicetouch screen with a mode graphical user interface region, and wirelesslytransmitting the desired mode to the electronic control module in thevehicle climate control system for electrically communicating with thefloor, defrost and/or dash servo motors to direct air to the desired airoutlet location; adjusting the fan speed of the vehicle climate controlsystem using the control software operating on the electronic mobiledevice touch screen with a fan speed graphical user interface region,and wirelessly transmitting the desired fan speed to the electroniccontrol module in the vehicle climate control system for electricallycommunicating with the fan/blower motor to provide the desired fanspeed; and monitoring pressure conditions within the vehicle climatecontrol system using a pressure transducer positioned in communicationwith a refrigerant line on a high pressure side of a compressor, andelectrically communicating a sensed pressure to the electronic controlmodule; monitoring pressure conditions within the vehicle climatecontrol system using a second pressure transducer positioned incommunication with a refrigerant line on a low pressure side of thecompressor, and electrically communicating a second sensed pressure tothe electronic control module; and diagnosing a pressure condition withthe vehicle climate control system by comparing the high and low sidesensed pressures communicated to the electronic control module andwirelessly communicating the pressures from the electronic controlmodule to the control software operating on the electronic mobile devicefor display on a diagnostic graphical user interface region.
 2. A systemfor wirelessly controlling and diagnosing a vehicle climate controlsystem with an electronic mobile device having control software usinggraphical user interface regions, the system including an electroniccontrol module for wirelessly interconnecting with the control softwareto select desired temperature, fan speed and air outlet locations in thevehicle climate control system; the vehicle climate control system iselectrically interconnected to the electronic control module formonitoring and controlling the temperature, velocity and location of airproduced from the heating, ventilating and air conditioning componentsof the vehicle climate control system; and pressure transducerspositioned within the vehicle climate control system monitor operatingpressures to diagnose problems within air conditioning components of thevehicle climate control system, including a first pressure transducerpositioned in communication with a refrigerant line to measure operatingpressure on a low pressure side of a compressor in the vehicle climatecontrol system, and a second pressure transducer positioned incommunication with a refrigerant line to measure operating pressure on ahigh pressure side of the compressor in the vehicle climate controlsystem, and sensed pressures are communicated to the electronic controlmodule for comparison and wireless communication to the electronicdevice control software for display on a diagnostic graphical userinterface region.